Microlearning Short and Sweet

ATD, 2019

15 min read

9 take-aways

Audio & text

What's inside?

The essential microguide to microlearning, from planning to design and evaluation.

1×

Editorial Rating

Qualities

Applicable
Well Structured
For Beginners

Recommendation

This pocket guide to microlearning delivers what its subtitle promises: The text is short because the authors include only the most important elements of the topic; it’s sweet because they summarize key take-aways at the end of each chapter and offer useful case studies and clear examples throughout to illustrate important themes. Readers will gain an understanding of what microlearning is and isn’t, when to use it (and when not to), what to include and what common pitfalls to avoid. Those new to microlearning planning, design, implementation and evaluation won’t find a better introduction to the topic.

Summary

Microlearning is an old concept, but new tools and techniques – including delivery by mobile phones – make it more broadly applicable.

Whether using a mobile app or old-fashioned flash cards, design microlearning with the goal of transferring knowledge and encouraging retention by the most efficient means possible.

For example, if you make microlearning units accessible remotely, salespeople can use the few minutes they have waiting in the lobby for a prospect meeting to refresh their memory of specific product capabilities or differentiators. Graduate students studying for final exams might use a digital flash card app on their smartphones. Customer service reps might learn how to interpret callers’ emotions using a games-based microlearning segment, while competing for points on the leader board each time they answer a question.

Microlearning delivers brief and engaging learning content, ideally, in the flow of a person’s work. Microlearning is grounded in the neuroscience of learning; its aim is to help the learner remember the material and lead to positive behavior change.

When designing a microlearning unit or segment, include...

About the Authors

Karl M. Kapp and Robyn A. Defelice teach learning design and instructional technology at Bloomsburg University.

Comment on this summary

More on this topic

By the same authors

Book

The Gamification of Learning and Instruction

In our Journal

5 months ago

Journal Article

Sixth Global L&D Knowledge Forum Wrap-Up

Didn’t have time to attend? We have the key takeaways summed up for you. getAbstract’s sixth Global L&D Knowledge Forum took place on November 8, 2023, as part of Applied Knowledge Week – a dynamic weeklong initiative that focused on best practices for L&D implementation. During the half-day online event, L&D expert Karl Kapp and leaders […]

10 months ago

Journal Article

Bridging the Gap: Microlearning, Deep Learning and the Battle for Attention

Microlearning drives modern workplace learning, but at what cost?

11 months ago

Journal Article

“Our Brains Simply Aren’t Designed to Absorb Massive Portions of Complex Information in One Sitting.”

Jana Eicher, EdContent Lead at getAbstract, explains what microlearning is and isn’t – and how getAbstract decided to move into the microlearning space. Arguably, demands on employees’ time and the simultaneous need to upskill have never been so high. Imparting actionable knowledge with microlearning courses may be part of the answer, getAbstract’s Jana Eicher explains. […]

3 years ago

Journal Article

Make Virtual Training Effective

Moving learning online can be a win-win – when done correctly. The pandemic shifted training and learning online – for better and for worse. A recent white paper developed by getAbstract details some of the best practices that have emerged in the online learning space. These four steps will help you make learning effective for […]